Collapsible bag closed by drawstring and zipper

ABSTRACT

The collapsible bag closed by drawstring and zipper is capable of assuming the configuration of items carried therein. The bag includes a reinforced hem and multiple handles. Generally circular in configuration when laid out, the bag is designed with a missing sector. A drawstring and a zipper are provided to secure the bag in the closed position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/465,587, filed Mar. 22, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to receptacles, and particularlyto a collapsible bag closed by drawstring and zipper for transportingfood.

2. Description of the Related Art

For many years, the question posed by the cashier at the end of thecheckout line at the grocery store or the like has been “paper orplastic?” These are the receptacles of choice available to the consumerfor transporting groceries, take-out food, or other merchandise. Inrecent years, however, because of the costs of paper bags and thedifficulty in disposing of plastic bags, consumers have been encouragedto furnish their own personal, reusable bags for transporting the abovementioned items. As a result, there are a plethora of reusable bagsavailable for personal use by the consumer. Unfortunately, theaforementioned reusable bags have proven to be somewhat less thansatisfactory in that they are relatively stiff and do not readilyconform to the items carried therein. Such bags can be difficult toclose and cumbersome to carry, often resulting in spillage. Thereceptacle industry would certainly welcome a bag that is of a flexibledesign to permit the bag to readily conform to the items carriedtherein, and that can he easily and securely closed to prevent spillage.Thus, a collapsible bag closed by drawstring and zipper solving theaforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The collapsible bag closed by drawstring and zipper is a collapsible bagcapable of assuming the configuration of items carried therein. The bagincludes a reinforced bottom area and multiple carrying handles.Generally circular in configuration when laid out, the bag is designedwith a missing sector to enhance closing. A drawstring and a zipper areprovided to secure the bag in a closed position.

Accordingly, the invention presents a reusable “tote bag” that isrugged, versatile and easy to carry. The walls of the bag are flexibleand readily conform to the shape of the items carried in the bag. Thebag is easily closed and secured. The invention provides for improvedelements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that areinexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing theirintended purposes.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TINE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a collapsible bag closedby drawstring and zipper according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a collapsible bag closed by drawstringand zipper according to the present invention, shown in the closedposition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a collapsible bag closed by drawstringand zipper according to the present invention, shown in an opened,laid-out position.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the collapsible bag closed by drawstring andzipper is generally indicated at 10. The bag 10 is fabricated from asuitable rugged, flexible material, preferably canvas, and is adapted tobe easily transported by a user P. When open and laid-out, as shown inFIG. 3, the bag 10 is of circular configuration and has a reinforcedperipheral hem 12 joining circular top and bottom sheets forming the bag10. A plurality of handles 14, which are fabricated from a ruggedwebbing material, is evenly spaced around and attached to the reinforcedperipheral edge 12. A rigid base plate 16 is disposed at a centralportion of the bag 10 and is covered by the bottom sheet, or may beenclosed in a pocket in the bottom sheet. The base plate 16 isfabricated from a die-cut styrene material and enhances the structuralintegrity of the bag 10.

A triangular or pie-shaped sector of the top and bottom sheets formingthe bag 10 has been removed, defining radial edges 18, 18 a that divergetowards the periphery of the bag 10. The vertex of the cutout sectordoes not extend all the way to the center of the top and bottom sheets,but is offset from the base plate 16 by an inch or two. The cutoutsector defines an arc of between about 60°-90° that has been removedfrom the periphery of the circular bag 10. The cutout sector makes iteasier to insert a food plate, pie or cake plate, bowl, an open foodcontainer, etc. into the bag 10 through the side or peripheral edge ofthe bag 10 so that the bottom of the plate, bowl, pan, or other foodcontainer rests on the rigid base plate 16.

A fastener member 20 functions to close the radially extending divergingedges 18, 18 a. Although a zipper is the preferred fastener member 20,it should be recognized that other fastener devices (hook and loop,buttons, etc.) could be employed, if found suitable. The peripheral hem12 is tubular and encapsulates a drawstring 22 therein. The drawstring22 also functions to close the bag 10 in a conventional manner toprovide for a secure and manageable carrying device. A conventionalbarrel lock 24 is employed to fasten the drawstring in a desiredposition. Opposite ends of the drawstring 22 extend across the opencutout sector and are joined by the barrel lock 24, so that thedrawstring 22 tightens the peripheral hem 12 of the circular bag 10.Preferably, the bag 10 has four handles 14 extending from the peripheralhem 12, the handles 14 being radially spaced apart by about 90° so thatthe peripheral edges can be folded up to support a plate or bowl uprightwithout tipping the plate or bowl and spilling its contents.

In use, the bag 10 is laid-out on a flat surface; and the item or itemsto be transported are placed in the center of the bag 10 through thecutout sector in the peripheral edge of the bag 10, the items beingsupported on the base plate 16. The radial edges are zipped or fastened,and the bag 10 is then pulled up around the items. The drawstring 22 isthen pulled tight, thereby cinching the bag 10 to secure the items heldtherein.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A collapsible bag, comprising: a body member having substantiallycircular, flexible walls defining a bag, a central area, and a circularperiphery, the body member having a triangular cutout sector defining anopening into the bag, the opening having opposed diverging, radiallyextending edges; a rigid base plate positioned at the central area ofone of the circular walls; a reinforced hem extending around theperiphery of the body member; and a fastener disposed on the diverging,radially extending edges for optionally securing the edges together toclose the opening in the bag.
 2. The collapsible bag according to claim1, further including a plurality of handles extending from saidreinforced hem.
 3. The collapsible bag according to claim 2, whereinsaid plurality of handles comprises four handles radially spaced apartby about 90°, whereby the body may be folded and grasped by the fourhandles to pick up and carry an open container resting on the base platewithout tipping and spilling contents of the container.
 4. Thecollapsible bag according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of handlesis fabricated from webbing material.
 5. The collapsible bag according toclaim 1, wherein said fastener comprises a zipper.
 6. The collapsiblebag according to claim 1, wherein said body member is fabricated fromcanvas.
 7. The collapsible bag according to claim 1, wherein said baseplate is fabricated from die-cut styrene.
 8. The collapsible bagaccording to claim 1, wherein said reinforced hem is tubular, the bagfurther including a drawstring encapsulated in said reinforced hem, thedrawstring having opposite ends extending across the cutout sector insaid body member.
 9. A collapsible bag, comprising: a body member havingsubstantially circular, flexible walls defining a bag, a central area,and a circular periphery, the body member having a triangular cutoutsector defining an opening into the bag, the opening having opposeddiverging, radially extending edges, the body member being made fromcanvas; a rigid base plate positioned at the central area of one of thecircular walls; a reinforced hem extending around the periphery of thebody member; a plurality of handles extending from the reinforced hemand spaced evenly therearound; and a fastener disposed on the diverging,radially extending edges for optionally securing said edges together toclose the opening in the bag.
 10. The collapsible bag according to claim9, wherein said fastener is a zipper.
 11. The collapsible bag accordingto claim 9, wherein said base plate is fabricated from die-cut styrene.12. The collapsible bag according to claim 9, wherein said reinforcedhem is tubular, the bag further including a drawstring encapsulated insaid reinforced hem, the drawstring having opposite ends extendingacross the cutout sector in said body member.
 13. The collapsible bagaccording to claim 9, wherein said plurality of handles is fabricatedfrom nylon webbing.
 14. A collapsible bag, comprising: a body memberhaving substantially circular, flexible walls defining a bag, a centralarea, and a circular periphery, the body member having a triangularcutout sector defining a side opening into the bag, the opening havingopposed diverging, radially extending edges, the body member being madefrom canvas; a rigid base plate made from die-cut styrene positioned atthe central area of one of the circular walls; a reinforced tubular hemextending around the periphery of the body member; a plurality ofhandles extending from the reinforced hem and spaced evenly therearound;a zipper disposed on the diverging, radially extending edges foroptionally securing the edges together to close the opening in the bag;and a drawstring encapsulated in said reinforced hem, the drawstringhaving opposite ends extending across the cutout sector in the bodymember.
 15. The collapsible bag according to claim 13, wherein saidplurality of handles is fabricated from nylon webbing.